17 October 2023, 15:33
Victorian Legislative Council, Melbourne
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan):
My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Environment, Mr Dimopoulos. My constituent, a resident of Brooklyn, has recently been made aware of a proposal by a resource company to expand its waste recycling operations to include soil waste washing facilities.
The proposed facility will see up to half a million tonnes of toxic soil stored at the facility each year as well as an additional 480 truck movements per day. This is fringing a residential area and exposing local residents to potentially contaminated dust and exhaust fumes, compromising their health, safety and amenity. The Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group was established by the state government in 2018.
It recommended that this type of polluting heavy industry be moved outside of the metropolitan Melbourne area. So my constituent asks: what is the minister doing to prevent the continuation of this type of polluting industrial activity close to residential areas and to protect health, safety and livability for Brooklyn and Sunshine West residents?
Written Answer
Received: 28 June 2024
Hon Steve Dimopoulos MP
(Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation)
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) received a development licence application from ResourceCo Material Solutions PTY LTD. EPA has requested further information before it accepts the application. If the application is accepted, EPA will commence its assessment process at which time details will be shared with the community through the Engage Victoria website.
The community will have the opportunity to provide its feedback on the application which will be considered as part of EPA’s assessment process. The government acknowledges that some communities within Victoria, including Melbourne’s inner west, are exposed to localised sources of air pollution.
As part of Clean Air for all Victorians – Victoria’s Air Quality Strategy, the Victorian Government commits to targeted actions to reduce air pollution and to protect and improve inner west air quality.
$2.84 million has been invested to establish two air quality improvement precincts in Melbourne’s west, and Brooklyn and Sunshine West are located within these precincts. Grants have been made available to fund six projects for businesses in the suburbs of Altona, Brooklyn, Derrimut and Laverton North with the aim of reducing dust and smoke.
Other initiatives to reduce emissions from freight include:
- the $58 million Port Rail Shuttle Network project and the $125 million Port Rail Transformation project to move more freight by rail
- relocating consolidated container storage to the former Melbourne Market site to accommodate freight and logistics uses closer to the Port of Melbourne
- the West Gate Tunnel project will introduce truck bans on six key local routes
- a zero emission bus trial will operate two hydrogen and 50 electric buses on routes in the inner west
- new siting and design requirements will be investigated, to reduce exposure risks from transport-related air pollution to sensitive uses, such as schools and childcare centres.
The government will also establish a long-term air pollution monitoring site in Footscray, a roadside monitoring station at Brooklyn, and carry out studies to better understand local sources of air pollutants.
$9.95 million has been invested in the More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program to have more trees planted in the inner west, while $1.79 million has been invested to further improve the management of childhood asthma.
In addition to these initial commitments in the Air Quality Strategy, the government is also investing $20 million which will be allocated to:
- local councils in the inner west with co-contribution grants to seal unsealed roads under council management, reducing airborne dust pollution
- transport operators via grants to modernise the truck fleet travelling through the inner west.
[ENDS]
